Contents Tree

The continent of Rodinia is the largest in the known world. Situated right in the middle of the globe (or more accurately, all known maps of the world are usually drawn this way as the Empire of Rodinia is the single most powerful and influential civilization in the world), it stretches from the frozen ice of Tapiriit in the north, through the Empires of Honshu and Rodinia in the middle, to the dense, humid jungles of Maya in the south. It runs from the western countries of Nubia and Hishan, across to the desolate and fearsome lands of Marlek. A large archipelago lies off the north eastern end of Kiltland.

The continent of Rodinia is, unlike the other two, smaller continents, not ruled by any one civilization although it is home to two powerful, and sometimes conflicting, empires. Places like the Kingdom of Albion in the north west, and the democaracy of Athena in the south east maintain their independence from the ever expanding territories of the empires between them.

The history of Rodinia is mostly a history of conquest. About seventeen hundred years ago the Empire of Elam rose up. At its height it controlled all the land mass of the main continent from the frozen north to the lush south, and fully across from east to west. That empire lasted some three hundred years, before it fell due to mysterious circumstances. It is held by popular belief that the emperor of Elam learned the secrets of necromancy and transformed himself into a lich. Legend tells he then retreated to a hidden fortress deep in a secluded region of his empire which is now called Marlek. The Empire of Elam collapsed at this time and the various tribes and cultures it comprised split up to find their own destinies.

Trade is rife in Rodinia. By far the major trading hubs of the continent are the capital cities of Rodin City and Olympia. Trade also passes across the sea from hubs in Nubia to distant Khemit and from ports on the shores of Kiltland and Athena to trading cities in western Lucarcia. There is little trade between the empires of Honshu and Rodinia, as they are almost always on the brink of outright war. Trade between the smaller neighbouring countries like Albion, the Wildlands and Hishan is reasonable and frequent.

Weather in the continent varies dramatically. The northern reaches of the continent are strewn with icy tundra and frozen mountain ranges. The middle regions are primarily rolling hills, fertile farmlands and endless savanas. As one approaches the sourthn extents of the continent the lands become increasingly hot and humid. The island of Mochica and the southern peninsula of Maya are both covered with thick, dense jungle.

The people of Rodinia are as varied as the terrain and the weather. The indiginous people of northern Tapirit are dark haired and fair of skin. They rarely grow beards and prefer to be cleanly shaven. Their neighbours, the islanders of Ager, are typically strong, tall and blonde, their skins weather-beaten and worn. Most men of fighting ages sports beards and grow outlandish hairstyles. The people of the Empire of Rodinia are for the most part dark of hair and golden of skin colour. Beards are rare but not unheard of, though most of the aristocracy consider facial hair taboo. The Nubians are dark of skin and black of hair. Nagastani are dusky of skin and typically dark of hair and it is uncommon for the men to shave their faces. The Athenians are also dark of hair but their skin colour tends more towards bronze. They usually follow the same fashions as their Rodinia cousins as to how they wear their hair and beards - though each country would maintain they are the leaders of the fashion and the other follow them. The natives of the Empire of Honshu tend towards straight black hair and an olive complexion. The warriors wear their heair long, in a distinctive top-knot style, and beards are uncommon, though trimmed moustaches are often favoured.

Places of Interest

The Empire of Honshu is vast, sprawling and split into seven provinces. It is a beautiful empire of rice fields, mountains and steaming jungles. It is very colourful and seems very peaceful, yet under this calm exterior it can be a deadly place. Honshu is a place of honour and of status. The smallest slight on a person above your rank can mean death. It can be a deadly place.

The greatest empire in the known World of Rodinia. This civilization stretches from the plains of Nubia in the south west all the way to the desolate mountains of Marlek in the east. It borders the warlike empire of Honshu in the north, and its close ally of Athena in the south east. Most of the entire continent of Rodinia is part of the great empire that bears its name. Those areas which have yet to be annexed by this expansionist realm view it with wary eyes.

The Agerians are daring masters of the sea. Their swift wooden longships, equipped with both sails and oars, enable them to mount piratical raids on the coastal settlements of northern Honshu, Weissland and beyond. The shallow draught of these ships means that they are able to reach far inland by river and stream, striking and moving on before local forces can muster.

Albion is a land of farms and fields, of apple orchards and streams, of strawberry-hedged lanes and bumblebees. But Albion's quiet and rural life is always under threat. The orcs in the mountains; the warlike Easterners; the malformed and hideous creatures of the Barren Wastes: all these threaten to upset the peace.

Athena is a large country comprising a large area in the south east of the main continent of Rodinia, plus large numbers of islands off the coast of the mainland. The islands of Ethion and Aquadis are the two largest of the member isles.
The Athenians are probably the greatest sea faring nation in the entirety of Rodinia. They are probably the cultural leaders of the world, having many philosophers, architects, sculptors and writers among their population. Their art is second to none and is the most sort after by knowledgable collectors across the world.

Hunters, gatherers and fishers, the Gumatj live in the scrubland and coastlands of their island territory. They are noted for their strong relationship with the crocodile which they hunt and eat only when preparing for war. At other times they see themselves as the protectors of crocodiles.
They also host the annual Garma festival which natives from the surrounding islands, especially Mochica, assemble for traditional dance, music and song.
Gumatj is one of the lowest lying islands in Rodinia, with no point more than a dozen feet above sea level. Storms in this area severely threaten the locals.

The elf nation of Hawkmoon is ruled over by the mad elf-mage known only as Dorian Hawkmoon. He is known to have been a one time adventurer who retired to this area from a far off land, some even say from another world. He is that strange and unusual that its just possible too. The elf lands of Hawkmoon contain no known settlements although it is almost certain that there are elven settlements inside its borders, but the elves here have a strict no-passage rule for all non-elves and these elves do not use misdirection and diplomacy to keep people out. They kill them.

Hishan is sometimes known as Little Khemit and did once upon a time use to be a colony of Khemit. It has shaken free of the rule of the pharoahs though, but still shares much of the same culture including the language. The extensive pantheon of Khemit gods has been replaced with the worship of two gods, Ra, the sun god, and his evil nemesis, Set. Ra's priests rule this nation, making it a theocracy and the High Priest of Ra its ultimate ruler. Worship of Set is punishable by death in Hishan.

Kiltland is a cold and savage place of vast pine forests. Winter here is brutal and the people here even more so. The Rodnians have yet to conquer the Kilts, and it seems unlikely that they ever will for this race are fierce, barbaric and even more warlike than the Rodinians themselves. Only their lack of organisation causes them to be little threat to their neighbours.

Maya is a huge sprawling inhospitable jungle. The local people are quite primitive compared to the rest of the world. It is believed they are canibalistic and worship strange gods. They are a water based culture, using kayaks made of hollowed out trees to navigate the waterways of the jungle lands they call home.

Mochica, Crown of the Frontier lands, is widely believed to be one of the most beautiful and exotic countries in the world. The kingdom of Mochica is formed of one large rougly square island, dominated with a ring of volcanic mountains which rise into the sky.

The Steppes of Nagastan are a rolling land which is peopled by pastoral nomads who migrate along with the herds of horses, sheep and goats from region to region in search of fresh pasture lands. Food supplies are augmented through hunting and gathering. Nagastan society is tribal, and the nomadic lifestyle is neither condusive to pan-tribal unity or nationhood. The Nagastani live in tents called yurts which they take with them on their nomadic travels.

Sylvandale is the elven name for the huge forest which runs the length of Albion's western border. Today it is an idylic place of dales and lightly wooded glens and also the home of the main elven nation in the area around the Kingdom. Sylvandale is the name of the wood and the capital city of the elves. The humans usually refer to this forest as the Elvenwood or sometimes still the Bloodwood, though that term has mostly fallen out of use.

The Wildlands are split into six city states, each of which claims the territory around it. Each is run as a realm in its own right with its own laws, culture and identity. They share a common religion and tongue, although each state has its own dialect. They have no real contact with the lands of Albion to the east, beyond the forboding forest, and only a little with the lands of Hishan, southeast of them.

This large desert is crossable due to the sparodic oasis which dot the terrain. The routes across it are known by local tribesmen but crossing the desert is not without peril. Apart from the intrinsic difficulties with the harsh landscape there is also the small question of the hobgoblins. These humanoids, numbering in their thousands across the desert, are a constant threat and danger to the tribesmen who lilve here and the merchants who seek to use this as a quick trade route.

Geographically, the continent of Rodinia is fairly varied. The far north is very cold, being ice bound during the winter months. The far south is very hot and humid. The coastal areas tend to be cooler in general. The central areas, notably the ridge between Honshu and Rodinia, boast large rugged mountain ranges. In the north west of the continent lies the Great Desert (so named by early travellers who had not yet encountered the desert continent of Khemit). Maya, to the south is virtually one great mass of jungle lands. Nestled between these features are many plains and forests. Rolling hlls with sweeping valleys, dotted with trees are ubiquitous. In places dark dreary marshes mar the landscape.

History of Rodinian Continent

three thousand years ago

Humans arrived in and drove the elves from what is now the Wildlands. This is the first recorded event in the history in the Rodinian continent. It is a topic of hit debate with scholars as to where these humans came from. Most assume from nearby Khemit, which has been proven to have had civilization predating this time.

two thousand years ago

The great chieftain Albion finally succeeded in driving the orcs back into the Jagged Peaks, united the tribes of the lands, named himself king and formed the Kingdom of Albion.

one thousand seven hundred years ago

The Empire of Elam forms. It would last over three hundred years and dominate the whole continent in that time.

one thousand five hundred years ago

Callindrill was born and active in the lands now called Albion. He was a great wizard whose interests apparently centred on the creation of magical constructs. He is said to have been the creator of most of the important enchanted items in the lands today.

The Empire of Elam reaches its height.

one thousand four hundred years ago

The Empire of Elam collapes. The nation of Elam remains but is relatively weak.

six hundred seventy-seven years ago

The city of Rodin is founded by Rodinius. The new calendar begins.

five hundred forty years ago

The lands of Honshu came under the control of one man, the Exulted One, Emperor of Honshu.

four hundred thirty-one years ago

The First Republic of Rodinia is formed.

two hundred six years ago

The Empire of Rodinia is formed with Emperor Augustus at its head.

forty-four years ago

The Theocracy of Hishan breaks free from the rule of Khemit and becomes
independent.